Though nothing is set in stone as of yet, De La Salle University Lady Spikers head coach Ramil De Jesus confirmed that he is in talks with the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. to take over the Women’s National Volleyball team program.
“Hindi siguro ito yung tamang panahon para magbigay ng comment kasi UAAP muna tayo,” De Jesus said reluctantly when first approached by Tiebreaker Times after their straight-sets win over the University of Santo Tomas.
“Actually nag-meeting kami pero hanggang dun muna.
“Wala pa ko sina-sign na contract, kung ano man ‘yung contract or kung meron man, pero basta nagpasabi sila na interested sila sa akin,” he elaborated.
De Jesus — a 10-time UAAP champion, two-time PSL titlist, and three-time PVL champion — also confirmed that he was involved in setting the National Team tryouts on Friday.
“‘Yung tryout one-day lang naman yun so if may interested or siguro kung gusto nila pumunta,” he added. “Sa meeting nag-set sila kasama ako doon sa nag-set.”
De Jesus added that he was flattered that most of his fellow coaches were in unison about wanting him to coach the National Team. But he expressed his hesitation.
The last time he was the National Team head coach in 2014, his team was disbanded after the LVPI took over for the Philippine Volleyball Federation. In 2005, he revealed that he was just the coach for 10 months before he was removed.
“Nakakatuwa pero alam naman natin na sobrang mabigat na responsibility hawakan yung national team,” he gushed. “So sa akin yun yung fear ko doon kasi galing na ako doon alam ko yung pressure. May mga nights na hirap ka talaga makatulog kasi iniisip ko kung paano makaka-survive sa bawat games. So nakakatuwa kasi maraming nakaka-appreciate.
“Pero destiny ko yata yun sa bawat naa-appoint ako nagkakaroon ng anomalya at bulilyaso.”
